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George Zimmerman released on $9,000 bond in domestic violence case

Zimmerman’s girlfriend said he tried to choke her about a week ago during an altercation that was not initially reported to police, a prosecutor says.

George Zimmerman, acquitted in the high-profile death of unarmed black teenager Trayvon Martin, appeared in court in Sanford, Fla., on Nov. 19, on new charges, including aggravated assault. (Joe Burbank / The Associated Press)

Tues., Nov. 19, 2013

Mike Schneider The Associated Press

SANFORD, FLA.—George Zimmerman’s girlfriend said he tried to choke her about a week ago during an altercation that was not initially reported to police, a prosecutor told a judge Tuesday during Zimmerman’s first court appearance on domestic violence-related charges.

Samantha Scheibe feared for her life because Zimmerman mentioned suicide and said he “had nothing to lose,” according to Assistant State Attorney Lymary Munoz.

After the hearing, Zimmerman’s public defenders said he did not appear to be suicidal and expressed confidence he would be acquitted of any wrongdoing.

Hours later, Zimmerman was released from jail after posting $9,000 bond. He was seen walking out of the jail smiling and getting into a car.

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Judge Frederic Schott ordered him to stay away from Scheibe’s house, wear a monitoring device and refrain from contact with her. He was forbidden from possessing guns or ammunition or travelling outside Florida.

Zimmerman has been charged with aggravated assault, a third-degree felony punishable by up to five years in prison. He also has been charged with battery and criminal mischief, both misdemeanours. An arraignment was set for Jan. 7.

Schott said Zimmerman’s previous brushes with the law were not a factor in the conditions he imposed, but he did cite the new allegation of choking as a reason for the bond amount.

Earlier this year, Zimmerman was acquitted of all charges in the fatal shooting of teenager Trayvon Martin in a case that drew worldwide attention.

Zimmerman, 30, wore grey jail garments and handcuffs during the hearing and spoke only when answering yes or no to the judge.

Public defender Jeff Dowdy said Zimmerman’s family has been supporting him financially.

Dowdy and another public defender, Daniel Megaro, said Zimmerman was not suicidal, despite what the prosecutor said.

“He doesn’t appear to be a danger to himself or a danger to anybody else,” Megaro said.

Zimmerman will probably use a bail bondsmen and money from his family to secure his release, Megaro said.

In this latest scuffle, both Zimmerman and his girlfriend called 911 and provided duelling descriptions to dispatchers about the argument at the home she rented where Zimmerman was also staying.

Scheibe accused him in the emergency call of pointing a gun at her, smashing a coffee table and then pushing her outside. Zimmerman also called dispatchers, denied pointing a gun at her and blamed her for the broken table.

The arrest on Monday was the latest legal problem for Zimmerman since he was acquitted last summer of criminal charges in the fatal shooting of Martin. Zimmerman has said he shot the 17-year-old to defend himself during a fight in February 2012 inside a gated community in Sanford, just outside Orlando. Federal authorities are now reviewing the case the see if Martin’s civil rights were violated.

Relatives of Martin, who was black and unarmed, accused Zimmerman of racially profiling the teen and instigating a fight. Zimmerman, who identifies himself as Hispanic, said he shot the teen in self-defence. The case sparked nationwide debates about race and self-defence laws.

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